THE spokesperson of the Davao City Prosecutor's Office (CPO) said that as the draft of the resolution of the frustrated murder and murder charges filed against identified respondents of Roxas Night Market Bombing is almost complete, it is now up to the Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to file supplemental affidavits against four new suspects who were arrested recently.
CPO Spokesperson Prosecutor Jay Karel Sanchez II, in a press briefing, said it is CIDG's call to add the four suspects namely Mohammad Lalaog Chenikandiyil also known as "Datu Boi," Jackson Mangulamas Usi alias "Abu Mansor/Jam," Zack Villanueva Lopez alias "Haron" and Ansan Abdulla Mamasapano alias "Abu Hamsa," all alleged members of the Maute Group, who were arrested last Saturday as respondents to the charges they filed.
"There is a draft, and it is undergoing process. If the CIDG will not include these new respondents, we will issue the resolution next week, but if the CIDG will add new evidence then we will have to defer the issuance of the resolution and send out subpoenas to the new respondents," Sanchez said.
Sanchez said that as of Thursday they have not received any supplemental affidavit from the CIDG.
The CPO cannot compel the CIDG to file supplemental affidavits as their office is only responsible in receiving and resolving a case filed based on the evidence given.
The preliminary investigation for the case is already done and a draft will be sent to the reviewing prosecutor before it will be approved by the City Prosecutor.
As long as the process is not completed, CIDG can still give supplemental affidavits for additional respondents.
Sanchez clarified that their office prioritizes the resolution of the case.
"Our office promised the public that we will give importance to this case and in fact we gave a period of 30 days. Although the 30-day period has elapsed, there were developments like the arrest of the three individuals, and arrest of another four new individuals so we have not been remiss on our responsibility to really give importance to the case," Sanchez said.
TJ Tagadaya Makabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musalli Mustapha were arrested last October 7, 2016 for being allegedly involved in the case, and since a supplemental affidavit was filed against them, the CPO has given them 10 days to file their counter affidavit but they have not replied.
The CIDG initially filed charges against five John Does, three Jane Does and one identified suspect, in relation to the bombing that took the lives of 15 people and wounded 69 others.